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On Saturday, I caught a break in the weather to do some chimney work. I hadn’t planned to climb up on the root above the living room, which has a steep pitch. But the rain seemed to be holding off. So I rented a 40-foot extension ladder from U-Rent on 3rd, grabbed the primer, and headed for the chimney. I only looked down two or three times. Scary for a guy who’ll be 60 on Nov. 20. Every time I go up on the roof to sweep the chimney or do some other kind of repair, I ask myself whether I’m getting too old to be doing this kind of stuff. Sorta like Danny Glover in “Lethal Weapon.” I don’t mind doing the work. And I’m in decent enough shape to handle it. But more than one person has told me that I’m nuts to do so.
Question: When are you too old to handle your own roof repairs and chimney sweeps?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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JeanieS on November 02 at 2:11 p.m.
I am too old right now. Mechanic Man has been up on the rooftop already because of the heavy rains - now streaming through damaged parts from last winter. He's got the roofing material - it's just getting his stocky body up there, wandering around trying to tip toe and not think “fat elephant on my roof.”
I'm ready to hire out.
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Charlie on November 02 at 4:18 p.m.
It's when you ask yourself, “Do I really want to go up there?” I know my limits on most things, roof's are #1 to stay off of. Age isn't really all that important.
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Don Sausser on November 02 at 6:05 p.m.
DFO, when you are afraid to look down :)
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Cindy H on November 02 at 6:11 p.m.
As long as yer life insurance is paid up, I think you should climb as many roofs as possible.
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hmoffsuite on November 02 at 6:12 p.m.
I think you are too old when you start asking yourself if you are too old.
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Cindy H on November 02 at 6:15 p.m.
@hmo: Wrong answer. You're too old when your wife says you are.
(Or makes comments about “elephants on roofs.”)
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Kage_Mann on November 02 at 6:25 p.m.
There was a picture of a Mr. Paisley, getting on his roof at the ripe old age of 98, in the CDA Press 20 years ago. He was doing repairs.
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hmoffsuite on November 02 at 6:41 p.m.
Cindy. You got that right. That is usually the final determination. :~)
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Stickman on November 02 at 7:25 p.m.
I got up on my roof once, and then preceded to fall off, and landed on my pile of wood for the winter. Saved me in a sense, though I would never go up again. Save that for the younger crowd, though I would never think to say that in the past.
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marmitetoasty on November 02 at 11:31 p.m.
Now, if your doodle houses had proper tiled roofs you all wouldnt be having 'roof trouble' so often :) - whats with them little squares of 'shed felt' that you use on yours roofs about anyways lol
x
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